Working the B&O Railroad Tower all night was at times a challenge. Being alone had a tendency of making the night drag on. However, during the Fall and Winter months I had a companion. About 10:00 PM every night a large dog would show up and spend the night in the warm tower. One night he was sound asleep and all of a sudden let out a yep and jumped up. Between his two front legs was a rather large rat. The chase was on. The rat took refuge under a cabinet and the dog had his head down looking at the critter. I grabbed the stove poker and joined the dog. After a poke or two the rat came out and the chase resumed. It ran up a bundle of telegraph wires heading for the hole in the wall. I hit the rat with the stove poker just as it disappeared through the hole. A few days later I came to work and the operator I was relieving was setting out on the step landing. He told me the odor was so bad in the tower he had to get fresh air. He couldn't figure out what was causing the odor. Apparently the rat died in the wall and was stinking up the place. I never did share the story with him. That night the windows were open my entire shift.
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